Jonathon Joseph Niese Bio Info

Jonathon Joseph Niese (pronounced "NEECE")...Wife's name is Leah...Has two children; daughter Graylee (11/18/13) and son Tatum (7/24/15)...Is a 2005 graduate of Defiance (OH) High School, where he won back-to-back Western Buckeye League championships in 2004 and 2005... Allowed one earned run and posted a 0.78 ERA (78.0ip) during his senior season...Also played soccer all four years during his high school career, where he earned third-team all-state as a wing during his junior year (his team won back-to-back Western Buckeye League championships in 2004 and 2005)... Attended the same high school as former big leaguer Chad Billingsley... His cousin, Chris Ehrnsberger, played in the Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals minor league systems in 2003 and 2004.

2015

Established career high in appearances in final season with the National League champion Mets...Went 9-10 with a 4.16 ERA (173.0ip/80er) in 30 starts and 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA (3.2ip/1er) in four relief appearances...Made each of his first 30 appearances as a member of the starting rotation before working out of the bullpen in his final four outings... Went 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA (37.0ip/8er) in first six starts thru 5/9 (the 1.95 ERA ranked eighth in the Majors during that stretch)...Went 4-4 with a 2.88 ERA (84.1ip/27er) in 13 starts from 6/5 to 8/15...Lost six straight decisions from 5/14 to 6/30...Collected his only extra base with a double on 6/11 vs. San Francisco ...Was on the paternity list from 7/25-28 for the birth of his son on 7/24... Went 3-0 in final seven road starts and tossed a career-high 15.2 scoreless innings on the road over two starts on 7/6 at San Francisco and 7/19 at St. Louis...Pitched 7.2 scoreless innings on 7/19, but received a no-decision in New York's 3-1, 18-inning victory...Suffered the loss (3.0ip/6er) on 7/24 vs. Los Angeles (NL) before winning three straight decisions from 8/4-22...Tossed 6.0 scoreless frames and earned the win in final start on 9/21 vs. Atlanta... Allowed one run in 1.2ip in first relief outing on 9/29 at Philadelphia; made three scoreless appearances in relief to end the regular season...Struck out the only batter he faced (Justin Ruggiano) in postseason debut in Game Two of the Division Series on 10/10 at Dodger Stadium...Made one scoreless appearance in the League Championship Series in Game Two on 10/18 vs. Chicago...Made four appearances in the World Series vs. Kansas City, allowing all three of his runs in Game Two at Kauffman Stadium.

2014

Placed on the 15-Day Disabled List on July 6, retroactive to July 5, with a left shoulder strain...Returned following the All-Star break on July 21...It was Niese's fifth stint on the DL since his debut in 2008...Also went on the DL from March 30-April 6, retroactive to March 21, with inflammation in his left elbow...Left his final start of the season on September 26 vs. Houston with an elevated heart rate...Tied a career high with 30 starts, first set in 2010 and matched in 2012...His 11 losses tied a career-high set in 2011...His 187.2 total innings this season were his second-most behind his 190.1 pitched in 2012...Finished with a 2.74 ERA (26 earned runs/85.1 innings) in 14 starts at Citi Field...Has gone a franchise-record 23 consecutive starts allowing three earned runs or less at home, dating to May 21, 2013...Passed Johan Santana, who went 22 consecutive starts from April 29, 2008-May 27, 2009 for the longest such streak in franchise history...Niese has the most wins (21) and has pitched the most innings (463.0) at Citi Field since the ballpark opened in 2009...Recorded 21 quality starts, tied with Zack Wheeler for the team lead...In those 21 starts, he went 8-6 with a 2.76 ERA (44 earned runs/143.2 innings)...His 21 quality starts marked the second-most quality starts in a season of his career, trailing the 22 he had in 2012....Allowed three earned runs or less in 27 of his 30 starts this season, tied for third-most in the NL and three behind leader Johnny Cueto of Cincinnati...Became the seventh lefthanded pitcher in franchise history to win 50 games when he picked up the victory on August 16 vs. the Cubs...Joined Jerry Koosman, Sid Fernandez, Al Leiter, Jon Matlack, Tom Glavine and Bobby Ojeda...Also became the 16th pitcher in team history, including the eighth homegrown player, to win 50 or more games. Went 5-4 with a 2.96 ERA (34 earned runs/103.1 innings) in 17 starts, before the All-Star break, his lowest ERA for the first half of a season...Was one of 12 NL pitchers to have an ERA under 3.00 for the first half of 2014...From September 13, 2013 to July 4, 2014, went a career-high 21 consecutive starts allowing three earned runs or less...The run tied one by Johan Santana for the second-longest streak in team history and longest since Santana went 21 straight starts from July 22, 2008-May 11, 2009...Went a franchise record-tying four straight starts in a single season allowing two runs or less while failing to earn a win (May 27-June 12) before allowing five runs in his start against the Cardinals on June 17...Became the ninth Mets pitcher to have such a streak and the first since Mike Pelfrey from May12-29, 2009...Went 43.1 innings (September 19, 2013-May 22, 2014) without allowing a home run at Citi Field until May 22 when he surrendered one to Los Angeles' Justin Turner in the seventh inning...It was the longest such streak of his career...Walked 45 batters in 187.2 innings for a walks per 9 of 2.2, a career low...Since his debut in 2008, has walked 265 batters, seventh-fewest among NL starters with at least 800.0 innings pitched during that span...Runners in scoring position batted .309 (46-149) against him, the 12th-highest mark in the majors (minimum 100.0 innings)...With runners in scoring position and two outs, batters had a .311 (23-74) mark, the seventh-highest in the majors and it was the highest batting average against of Niese's career with RISP and two outs...Among starters with double-digit losses this season, Niese's 3.40 ERA was the ninth-best in the NL...St. Louis' Lance Lynn had the lowest ERA among NL pitchers with at least 10 losses, with a 2.74 ERA (62 earned runs/203.2 innings)...Did not allow a home run to a lefthanded batter from August 16, 2013 (San Diego's Will Venable at PETCO Park) until June 1, 2014 (Philadelphia's Ryan Howard at Citizens Bank Park), a span of 20 starts...Held lefthanded hitters to a .254 batting average against (44-173), with 11 extra-base hits and 37 strikeouts...Three of his 17 home runs allowed this season were to lefties.

2013

After returning from the DL on August 11, went 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA (22 earned runs/66.0 innings) to close out the season...Struck out 56 and walked 15...Finished with four consecutive quality starts... Tossed a three-hitter on August 27 against the Phillies for the second shutout of his career...Also tossed a one-hit shutout on June 10, 2010 in the second game of a doubleheader against the Padres...Threw 113 pitches, 78 for strikes and retired 17 straight from the second to the seventh inning...He became the second Mets pitcher to throw a shutout and drive in three runs, joining Pete Falcone, who also did it against the Phillies on September 29, 1981 at Veteran's Stadium... Tossed 6.1 innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs to win his first career Opening Day start, April 1 vs. San Diego…Became the 22nd different pitcher to start Opening Day for the Mets... Tied his career high with two hits, April 1 vs. San Diego…It was his fourth game with multiple hits (September 5, 2010; June 3, 2012; September 14, 2012)…Became the third Mets pitcher with two hits on Opening Day; Tom Glavine did it on April 3, 2006 vs. Washington and Craig Swan had two on April 10, 1980 vs. Chicago-NL... Walked a career high-tying six on May 5 at Atlanta...In his first 13 starts this season he had a 1.33 strikeout/walk ratio (44 strikeouts/33 walks)...In his final 11 starts, the lefthander compiled a 4.07 strikeout/walk mark (61 strikeouts/15 walks)...His career mark is 2.61... Went 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA (six earned runs/28.0 innings) in four August starts...His 1.93 ERA was the eighth-best mark for the month among all MLB pitchers...Also compiled a .204 batting average against, the 11th-best mark in the majors for the month... Struck out a season high-tying nine in back-to-back starts on August 16 at San Diego and August 21 vs. Atlanta...Prior to that, he had only struck out more than eight once in his career...He fanned 10 in 6.0 innings against St. Louis at Citi Field on June 3, 2012...His strikeouts per nine innings for the season was 6.61...His career strikeouts per nine innings is 7.35... In 11 starts on four days rest, he went 3-2 with a 2.27 ERA (16 earned runs/63.1 innings)...In his 13 starts with more than four days rest, Niese's ERA was 4.86 (43 earned runs/79.2 innings)... Finished with the fourth-highest WHIP (1.44) in the NL (minimum 140 innings pitched)... Allowed a stolen base to Michael Bourn in the first inning in his September 7 start against Cleveland, his first stolen base against in 2013 (second attempt)...Allowed his only other one in his last start of the season, when Carlos Gomez swiped second base...Finished 2013 having allowed the eighth-fewest stolen bases (18) in the majors since 2008 (minimum 600 innings)... Drove home a career-high three runs with a bases-loaded double in the sixth inning on August 27 vs. Philadelphia…Became the 20th Mets pitcher to have at least three RBI in a game and the first since Al Leiter drove in three runs on August 12, 1999 vs. San Diego... Finished with a 2.70 ERA (26 earned runs/86.2 innings) in 14 starts at Citi Field, but won three of 14 starts...On the road, went 5-3, with a 5.27 ERA (33 earned runs/56.1 innings) in 10 starts... Went 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA (two earned runs/13.0 innings) at Nationals Park...Owns a 1.67 (six earned runs/32.1 innings) career ERA at Nationals Park, the second-best in the ballpark's history (minimum 30.0 innings)... Pitched in three rehab games in the minors with Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League, St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League and the rookie-level Gulf Coast Mets, combining to go 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA (three earned runs/11.0 innings pitched)...Struck out 11 and walked four.

2012Finished the year with a career-high 13 wins...His previous best was 11 wins
set lin 2011...Also posted career-highs in innings pitched and strikeouts...
Ranked 14th in the NL with a 3.40 ERA...Tossed eight straight quality starts to end the season and had 22 on the
year...He was tied for eighth in the National League with his 22 quality
starts...Went 7-4 in 15 road starts...Ranked seventh in the NL with a 3.04 (31
earned runs/91.2 innings) road ERA...Won his final three starts...During that stretch, he posted a 2.79 ERA (six
earned runs/19.1 innings) with 15 strikeouts...Went a franchise record 17 straight starts from June 3-September 7, where
he pitched 6.0 or more innings and walked two or fewer batters...The
previous record was 12, held by Pedro Martinez in 2005...Became the seventh pitcher in franchise history to throw at least 7.0
innings and not walk a batter in three straight starts from July 8-July
22...The last Mets pitcher to do so was Tom Glavine in 2005...The last
major league pitcher to do that was Cliff Lee, who did it in four straight
starts in June, 2010...Tossed 25.0 innings without a walk from July 3-July 27, the longest streak
by a Mets pitcher since 2011, when Mike Pelfrey went 25.0 innings without
a base-on-balls from June 2-June 24...Had a career-high 14.1 scoreless innings from August 12-August 24...On June 3 vs. St. Louis, established a new career-high in strikeouts with
10...His previous high was eight, done four previous times, most recently
on June 9, 2011 at Milwaukee...The last Mets pitcher to strikeout doubledigits vs. the Cardinals in a regular season game was David Cone on June
26, 1992 at St. Louis (12 strikeouts)...Gave up a home run in nine of his final 15 starts, dating to July 3...Gave up
a career-high 22 home runs...His previous high was 20 in 2010... Surrendered
a career-high four home runs in his start on May 18 at Toronto...Was 3-1 with a 1.89 ERA (seven earned runs/33.1 innings) in five June
starts...When pitching on regular four days rest he went 4-4 with a 5.49 (37
earned runs/60.2 innings) in 10 starts...When he had an extra day of rest,
he was 5-4 with a 2.56 ERA (24 earned runs/84.1 innings) and on two or
more days rest he went 4-1 with a 2.35 ERA (11 earned runs/45.1 innings)...Pitched at least 6.0 innings in 20 straight starts to end the season...The
stretch began on June 3...Hurled 7.0 or more innings in 12 of his final 19
starts...Allowed a career high-tying eight runs twice: July 27 at Arizona and May 18 at Toronto...Allowed eight runs in a game
four times in his career...Prior to this season, the last time he surrendered eight runs was August 23, 2011 at Philadelphia...Held lefthanded hitters to a .243 (35-144) batting average, with four home runs, seven walks and 36 strikeouts...
Conversely, allowed 18 home runs and 42 walks to righthanders while holding opponents to a .240 (139-579) batting
average...Held the opposition to a .237 (32-135) batting average with runners in scoring position, including .188 (12-64) in such
situations with two outs...In 11 starts during the day in 2012, was 4-2 with a 2.99 ERA (24 earned runs/72.1 innings)...In 19 night starts, the
lefthander was 9-7 with a 3.66 ERA (48 earned runs/118.0 innings)...Allowed 17 of his 22 home runs during night
games...For his career, has compiled a 13-10 record with a 3.67 ERA (80 earned runs/196.0 innings pitched) during the
day in 33 starts, compared to his 22-22 mark with a 4.27 ERA (173 earned runs/365.0 innings pitched) at night in 62
games, 61 starts...Led all Mets pitchers with 12 hits and a .218 (12-55) batting average.2011Placed on the 15-Day Disabled List on August 24 with an intercostal strain of his right side. ...Missed the remainder of the year...Last start came on August 23 at Philadelphia. ... Set a career-high in wins (11), surpassing his previous best of nine in 2010. ... From May 18-June 9, went 3-1 with a 1.34 ERA (five earned runs/33.2
innings) in five starts. ... The 1.34 ERA was third-best in the Majors over that stretch (minimum 20.0 innings). ... Struck out 33 batters
during that span. ... Went 6-2 with a 3.06 ERA (21 earned runs/61.2 innings) in 10 starts
from May 6-June 25. ... Struck out 106 batters over the last 109.0 innings of his season
(starting on May 18), good for an 8.75 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio. ... The 8.75 strikeouts-per-nine innings rate was fifth-best in the
National League from May 18 through Niese's last start of the season on August 23 (minimum 87.0 innings). ... Established a career-high with 15 quality starts. ... Had 14 quality starts
in 2010. ... Made his first major league relief appearance on July 10 at San Francisco. ... In 0.1 inning he allowed two runs, earned, and two hits. ... Strung together a career-long streak of nine consecutive starts with at least five strikeouts from June 25-August 11. ... Allowed two earned runs or less in six straight starts from May 18-
June 14, the longest such streak of his career and the longest by a Mets pitcher since Johan Santana went 13 straight from September 1, 2008-May 11, 2009. ... From June 9-July 26, won five consecutive road starts, the longest such streak of his career. ... Recorded 252 groundballs and 129 flyballs, good for a 66.14 groundball percentage, the highest mark of his career. ... Entered the May 16 game vs. Florida as a pinch-hitter for Ryota Igarashi in the 11th inning and recorded his first career triple. ... Was also the last Mets pitcher to enter a game as a pinch hitter, on April 17, 2010 at St. Louis in the 15th inning for Hisanori Takahashi. ... The last Mets pitcher to collect a pinch-hit was Brian Bohanon on September 12, 1997 vs. Montreal. ... The last Mets pitcher to hit a triple was Nelson Figueroa on August 5, 2009 vs. St. Louis.Held lefthanded batters to a .259 average, .307 on-base percentage and .357 slugging percentage. ... Allowed
only 10 extra-base hits to lefthanded hitters (eight doubles and two home runs). ... The 10 extra-base hits to lefthanded hitters was tied for 10th-fewest in the National League and the two home runs allowed to lefthanded hitters was tied for seventh-fewest in the NL through Niese's last start of the season on August 23 (minimum 23 starts). ... Allowed a career-high seven stolen bases after not allowing any in 2010. ... Since entering the league in 2008, he has allowed the third-fewest stolen bases (eight) in the Majors among active pitchers with at least 350.0 innings. ... Lost his first three decisions of the season after losing the last three decisions of last season. ... The six-game losing streak marked the longest of his career.2010Became the ninth Mets rookie to make at least 30 starts in a season and the
first since Jae Seo in 2003...Led all rookies in strikeouts and finished tied for
sixth in wins...Threw the 34th one-hitter in club history and retired a franchise
record-setting 21 straight to close out a 3-0 win over San Diego in Game
Two of a doubleheader on June 10 at Citi Field...He did not allow any
baserunners other than Chris Denorfia, who doubled in the third
inning...Became the second Mets pitcher to be one out from perfection...Tom
Seaver did it on July 9, 1969 against the Chicago Cubs...It was the 26th complete-game one-hitter in club history (R.A.Dickey threw
the 27th later on in the season)...Before Niese, the last one-hitter by the
Mets came on July 12, 2008 when Pedro Martinez, Carlos Muniz, Aaron
Heilman, Scott Schoeneweis and BillyWagner combined to one-hit the
Colorado Rockies in a 3-0 win...Aaron Heilman threw the last individual
complete game one-hitter, beating the Florida Marlins on April 15, 2005 at
Shea Stadium...Faced 28 batters during his one-hitter on June 16...The last Mets pitcher to
face one batter over the minimum was Shawn Estes on April 26, 2002 vs.
Milwaukee...Estes allowed one hit and one walk but EricYoung was caught
stealing...Placed on the 15-Day Disabled List on May 19, retroactive to May 17,with
a mild strain of his right hamstring that forced him out of his start on May
16 at Florida after 2.0 innings...Activated from the DL on June 5 to make the
start that night against Florida...Put together two, career-high scoreless streaks of 12.0 innings...His first came
over a span of two games from June 10-June 16, while his latest was over
two games from June 27-July 2...Did not allow a stolen base (four caught stealings) to lead the major leagues
among pitchers with at least 105.0 innings pitched...A Mets pitcher led that
category for the second straight season...Johan Santana allowed one stolen
base in 2009 to tie for the major league lead with Joel Pineiro...From April 19-April 30, a stretch of three games, he went 1-0 with a 1.00
ERA (two earned runs/18.0 innings)...Allowed 17 hits, no home runs and
struck out 20...Entered the April 17 game at St. Louis as a pinch-hitter...Hitting for Hisanori
Takahashi in the 15th inning, he struck out...It was the first time a Mets pitcher
pinch-hit sinceTom Glavine on July 28, 2007 vs.Washington (GameTwo)...Allowed a career-high 12 hits on May 5 at Cincinnati...Won five consecutive decisions from June 5-July 2 to put together the first winning streak of his career...Also became
the first Mets rookie to win three consecutive starts while pitching at least 7.0 innings in each game (June 5-June 16)
since Jae Seo in 2003 (May 31-June 11)...Before that stretch,Niese had never won consecutive decisions...Finished with four June wins, tied for third-most in the major leagues...His 2.67 ERA (10 earned runs/33.2 innings) was
good for 13th in the National League, while he was one of eight qualifying pitchers (minimum four decisions) to go
unbeaten during the month...Over a 15 start span from June 5-August 21, he went 7-3 with a 2.70 ERA (29 earned runs/96.2 innings) with two
complete games...Went 7.0 innings and allowed one run in three straight starts fromAugust 6-August 21, for a 1.29 ERA (three earned
runs/21.0 innings)...Recorded one win and struck out 19...The streak of at least 7.0 innings and one run or less in three
consecutive starts was tied for the fourth longest such streak in the majors...Johan Santana, Florida's Josh Johnson and
San Francisco's Matt Cain put together five-game streaks earlier in the season...Was 1-5 with a 7.57 ERA (30 earned runs/35.2 innings) over his last seven starts of the season from August
26-September 29...Walked a career-most six on September 22 at Florida.2009Tore his hamstring during his start on August 5th vs. St. Louis...Had successful
surgery on August 6th at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan and was
placed on the 60-Day Disabled List the same day...Started the season with Buffalo (AAA) of the International League, recalled on
May 6th and optioned back to the Bisons on May 14th...Recalled for a second
time on July 25th before being placed on the 60-Day Disabled List on August 6th
with a torn right hamstring tendon...For Buffalo, he was 5-2 with a 2.40 ERA in nine starts at night...Allowed just 48
hits over 60.0 innings and struck out 50...Dropped his first six decisions over a span of nine starts (April 9th-June 7th) at
Buffalo, pitching to a 7.36 ERA...Struck out eight hitters over 6.0 innings, both to set season highs, and allowed
just three hits and one run, earned, but took a no-decision in a 4-3 loss to
Louisville in his start on May 1st...Received a no-decision in his first
major league start of the season on
May 8th vs. the Pirates...Over 6.0
innings he allowed seven hits, two
runs, earned, and did not walk a
batter while striking out five...Took a no-decision on May 13th
against Atlanta in his second major
league start in 2009 and was optioned
to Buffalo one day later...After returning to the Bisons on May
14th, he set a career-high with 23.1
scoreless innings between June 7th-
June 25th...Went 5-0 with a 0.72 ERA (four
earned runs/50.1 innings pitched) in
his last seven starts (June 12th-July
18th) for Buffalo...Allowed 34 hits,
12 walks, and one home run, while
striking out 42...He threw two
complete-game shutouts and tied the
longest winning streak of his career
during the stretch...Tied his personal best with 10
strikeouts in a complete-game shutout
at Rochester on July 5th, in the
second game of a doubleheader...
Allowed five hits in the 5-0 win...It
was the second time he went 9.0 innings...Named the International League Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 29th-
July 5th...Went 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA in two starts during that time period...Went
8.0 innings in a no-decision at home against Charlotte before throwing the
complete game shutout at Rochester on July 5th...Recalled from Buffalo on July 25th to make the start that night in place of an
injured Fernando Nieve...Picked up the win, pitching 7.0 strong innings and
allowing just four hits and one run, earned...Over a span of eight starts between
Buffalo and New York from June 12th-July 25th, the lefthander was 6-0 with a
0.78 ERA (five earned runs/57.1 innings pitched)...Pitched into the seventh inning for the second straight start, but dropped a 4-2
decision to Colorado on July 30th at Citi Field.2008Received the Sterling Organizational Pitcher of the Year Award, emblematic of the top pitcher on the minor league level...Had his contract selected by the Mets from New Orleans (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League on September 1st...Made his major league debut on September 2nd at Milwaukee...Became the first player in Mets history to allow a home run
to the first batter faced, when Rickie Weeks connected in the bottom of the first...Struck out Corey Hart in the bottom of the first inning in his start September 2nd for the first strikeout of his career...Collected his first major league victory, tossing 8.0 shutout innings on September 13th vs. Atlanta...Became the youngest Mets
player to collect a win since Bill Pulsipher, who was one day younger at 21 years, 320 days when he beat San Diego on
August 26, 1995...Reached on an infield single off Buddy Carlyle on September 13th for his first major league hit...Allowed only one home run to a lefthanded batter in 136 at-bats between Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League and New
Orleans...Led all Mets minor league pitchers with 144 strikeouts...Became the first Binghamton Mets pitcher to start and win his Double-A debut on Opening Night tossing 5.0 shutout
innings April 3rd vs. Trenton...The B-Mets defeated the Thunder, 2-0...Tossed his first 9.0 inning complete game on June 27th vs. Connecticut...Tagged with the loss after allowing four runs and
seven hits while walking two and striking out four...Made 22 starts with Binghamton, tossing 6.0 innings or more in 13 of these 22 outings...Allowed three earned runs or less
in 16 of the 22 starts...Promoted to New Orleans (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League on July 29th...Made his Triple-A debut on July 30th vs.
Tucson...Tossed 7.0 innings, allowing one run and three hits while striking out seven and walking two as the Zephyrs defeated
the Sidewinders, 7-1...Made three starts with the Mets during spring training...Was 1-0 with a 3.12 ERA (three earned runs/8.2 innings) on five hits
while walking seven and striking out six.